Retaining device for twister spindles



Feb. 21, 1933.

W. O. ALDRICH RETAINING DEVICE FOR TWISTER SPINDLES Filed Dec. 26, 1929INVENTOR BY v Y M I ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT} OFFICE WILLIAM G. ALDRICH, OE WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS,.ASSIGNOR TO WHITIN MAGHIN E WORKS, 013 WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF MASSA- OHUSETTS RETAINING DEVICE FOR TWISTER SPINDLESApplication filed December 26, 1929. Serial No. 416,395.

This invention relates to machines for twisting yarn or thread. Intwisters for certain purposes, such as twisting rayon thread, thetwisted thread islaid on a sleeve or tube 5 held between a lowercentering base or disc fixed to the spindle blade and an upper centeringcap detachably mounted on the spindle. Difliculties have beenencountered in retaining the upper cap or disc in position on thespindle when the spindle is rotated at high speed, and substantialdamage has resulted from displacement of the caps.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved device forretaining a cap or disc .on the end of a twister spindle or othersimilar mechanism. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which thecentering cap or disc is automatically locked to the spindle blade,preferably by centrifugal action when rotation of the spindle takesplace.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig.1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved spindle andretaining device" Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of theretaining device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the'thimble which is mounted on the hub of thecentering cap;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the locking washer; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown a portion of the frame 10 of atwisting machine having a spindle base 11 secured therein. A spindleblade 12 is'rotatable in the base 11 and is driven by a band 13 whichengages the spindle whirl 14. The twisted yarn or thread is laid on asleeve or tube 20, the lower end of which is supported and centered by adisc 21 fixed on the hub of the whirl 14 and having a depending conicalouter flange 22.

At its upper end, the blade 12 is provided with an enlarged end member30, preferably formed as a separate piece pressed firmly on the taperingend of the blade 12. The end member 30 is provided with a rounded topportion 31 and with a plurality of circumferential grooves 32. v

The upper end of the tube or sleeve 20 is centered by a cap having aninverted conical outer flange 41. The cap 40 is mounted on a hub portion42 which fits loosely over the end member 30 of the blade 12. A thimble44 is forced on the upper end of the hub member 42 and retains the cap40 and hub 42 enough to pass freely over the end 31 of the member 30,and the edges of the washer around the opening 51 are sharply beveledoutward and downward, as indicated in dotted lines at 53 .(Fig. 6). p i

The washer 50 is assembled between the upper end of the hub 42 and theend of the thimble 44, with the eccentric portion 52 projecting outwardthrough the slot 48 in the side of the thimble 44. The parts are soproportioned that the washer is freely slidable between the parts 42 and44 but is held from displacement thereby.

Having described the details of construction of my retaining device themethod of operation and advantages thereof are as follows " A sleeveortube 20 is placed on the conical flange 22 of the lower disc 21 and isfirmly engaged and centered thereby. The upper centering cap 40 is thenplaced on the end member 30 and slides downward until its conical outerflange 41 firmly engages the upper end of the sleeve 20. As the partsare thus assembled, the endmember 30 is projected through the washer 50and through the end of the thimble 44.

As soon as the spindle begins to rotate, centrifugal force exerted onthe eccentric portion 52 causes the washer 50 to crowd toward the slot48 in the thimble 454 and thus moves the beveled inner edge of thewasher into one of the circumferential grooves 32. These grooves areprovided with abrupt upper faces, so that the cap 40 cannot move upwardsolong as the washer 50 is engaged in any one of the grooves 32. The cap40 is thus securely held from displacement so long as the spindlerotates.

The provision of a plurality of grooves 32 permits the cap 40 to bepositioned axially in accordance with the length or diameter of aparticular tube 20, and provides a locking groove adjacent the washer 50in whatever axial position it may assume.

When it is desired to remove the cap 40, the washer 50 may be movedinward by manual pressure on the outwardly projecting portion 52 andwhen thus'pressed inward, the washer will be centered by engagement withthe inside of the thimble l4, whereupon the cap may be removed from theend of the spindle.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is zy 1. In a twister, aspindle having a blade, a cap mounted on the upper end of said blade andhaving an axial opening to receive said blade, and means carried by saidcap and movable by centrifugal force into engagement with said blade tothereby lock said cap to said blade during rotation of said spindle,said cap engaging and centering said locking means in inoperativeposition when said locking means is manually pushed radially inward. 1

2. In a twister spindle, a blade with an externally andcircumferentially grooved upper end portion, means to rotate saidspindle, a cap loosely fitted on said upper end portion, and a retainingdevice mounted on said cap and surrounding said upper end portion andsaid device moving to engage said grooved end portion of said blade whensaid spindle is placed in rotation.

3 The combination'in a retaining device as set forth in claim 2, inwhich a plurality of grooves are provided in said spindle blade end ofsaid spindle blade, thereby preventing axial displacement of said capwhen said spindle is rotated.

5. In a twister spindle, a blade with a circumferentially grooved upperend portion, means to rotate said spindle, a cap having an upwardlyprojecting hub portion, a, slotted thimble for said hub portion, and awasher loosely confined between said hub portion and said thimble andhaving an eccentrically disposed portion projecting outward at one sidethrough the slot in said thimble, said washer being displaced radiallyoutward by centrifugal force to engage the grooved end of said spindleblade when said spindle is placed in rotation.

6. The combination in a retaining device as set forth in claim 5, inwhich said thimble centers said washer in alignment with said spindleblade when said washer is pushed radially inward.

7. As an article of manufacture, a bobbin locking cap, comprising a bodyportion provided with a perforated central hub provided with a cavity,and means lying within said cavity and out of balance with respect tothe central axis, whereby upon rotation of the cap around the centralaxis a portion of said means enters the central opening of the hub forlocking purposes.

8. A locking cap for bobbins,comprising a disc-like member having acentral hub provided with a cavity, and a washer-like member looselysupported in said cavity and provided with an offset portion at one sidethereof adapted to move said member laterally for locking purposes uponrotation of said cap;

9. In a twister, a spindle having a blade,

a cap mounted on the upper end of said blade, and centrifugally operatedmeans to lock said cap to said blade during rotation of said spindle,said locking means being self-centering in inoperative position whemanually pushed radially inward.

In testimony whereof he has hereunto affixed his signature.

' WILLIAM O. ALDRICH.

and in which said retaining device is engageable with any one of saidgrooves in accordance with the axial position in which said cap issupported on said blade.

4. In a twister spindle, a blade with a plurality of externalcircumferentialgrooves in its upper end portion, means to rotate saidspindle, a cap loosely fitted on said upper end portion, and a retainingdevice mounted on said cap and actuated by centrifugal force to engagein one of the grooves at the upper

